buying an Digital SLR

ChefMasterfunk · 05-21-2008, 10:08 AM

Hey guys, i know there are some camera/photography gurus on the boards here. just wanted to share and hopefully get some advice, im more then likely going to purchase a Nikkon D40 as my first SLR. I think is more then enough camera for me, but i have had people try to tell me the Cannon Rebel Xt is also a great camera. the Nikon is priced at 500 and i think the Rebel Xt was at about 525 on sale at best buy. so with that. which would you guys recommend? I want more then just a point and shot camera, hence the purchase of an SLR.

thanks guys, hope to get some replies !!

**Parker** · 05-21-2008, 08:33 PM

they'll both do just fine but you'll be somewhat limited by the lenses you can purchase with the d40. go and hold, shoot and play with them because the differences will be negligible anyways.

ChefMasterfunk · 05-21-2008, 10:31 PM

okayyy.. thanks much for the input!!!! tomorrow i think i will be making my purchase

WESTI · 05-21-2008, 10:46 PM

i got the nikon d80 and i have to say its way more camera than i really need. U should asked. I woulda let you play with it

oh i also bought that 900 dollar lens thats supposed to be the best nikon lens evar. Didnt dissapoint.

blindfold · 05-21-2008, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WESTI

i got the nikon d80 and i have to say its way more camera than i really need. U should asked. I woulda let you play with it

oh i also bought that 900 dollar lens thats supposed to be the best nikon lens evar. Didnt dissapoint.

what?! the 18-200mm, you do not need it, send it my way

If i could do it over and not mess around, I would jump straight into a Canon 30D

WESTI · 05-21-2008, 11:04 PM

ahha yea the 18-200 VR lens. It was freakin 1000 after tax. But IMO it was worth every penny. Its on the camera 99% of the time. The other 1% im cleaning it. It can pretty much take any picture any time. Only time it kinda lacks is in the dark. But otherwise its awsome!

UltimateLurker · 05-22-2008, 04:48 AM

D80 + VR 18-200 FTMFW!!!

Man, if you're not happy with that set-up you simply can't be happy!

OP: Stretch and get the D80, even if you have to get the body only for now.

***Bownse*** · 05-22-2008, 05:06 AM

Don't forget to check out the Pentax line also. People sometimes forget that they are still making camera and that there's a huge resource of lenses from the line of 35mm cameras that interchange with their DSL line.

ChefMasterfunk · 05-22-2008, 10:20 AM

thanks for all the input guys. ill check them all out. haha wes you should have told me you had the camera!

samleeiii · 05-22-2008, 10:27 AM

I've always shot Canon. I've had maybe 5-6 DSLRs now. It really doesn't matter what system you go with, they both do the same thing: take photos. Just be prepared to spend money on lens and lighting equipment.

Really it's all about lighting. Learn to shoot in RAW and how to post process that format. You'll never shoot JPEG again if you figure out how RAW works.

I personally like wide angle lens. Here's a shot off my 10-22mm with really bad lighting. I just took a quick snap.

ChefMasterfunk · 05-22-2008, 10:31 AM

awesome thanks for the advice! im kinda leaning towards the Canon Rebel XT...

and yeah im prepared to be buying new lenses and such, i really want to learn how to do it right tho you know? like you said, learn how to use and work with lighting.

i dunnoo.. i just want to actually apply my self and evolve from point and shoot.

samleeiii · 05-22-2008, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChefMasterfunk

awesome thanks for the advice! im kinda leaning towards the Canon Rebel XT...

The XT will serve you well. Hell if you're just starting out, that 18-55mm they give you in the kit will work pretty decently. It's not the sharpest lens out there, but it's so cheap and it performs relatively well at the wide end.

If you want to read reviews, check out Digital Camera Reviews and News: Digital Photography Review: Forums, Glossary, FAQ

samleeiii · 05-22-2008, 10:36 AM

Yeah you'll learn by doing. Use the kit for a while until you get familiar with the camera and learn all the functions, then you can decide which way you'll want to go with new lens or lighting.

Personally the cheapest "lighting" investment for me was just a better flash.

ChefMasterfunk · 05-22-2008, 10:44 AM

awesome thanks for the link and advice. im gonna go out and physically play with it for a while and probably buy it today

im sure i will be back here asking for tips in the future haha

thanks guys!

samleeiii · 05-22-2008, 10:49 AM

Have fun! Wow you're in Aliso I didn't even notice. LOL.

05-21-2008, 10:08 AM	#1
ChefMasterfunk STI Driver Car: 05 STi Fav Mod: Coilovers Location: Aliso, socal Posts: 295 Join Date: Mar 2007 Trader Rating: (2)	buying an Digital SLR Hey guys, i know there are some camera/photography gurus on the boards here. just wanted to share and hopefully get some advice, im more then likely going to purchase a Nikkon D40 as my first SLR. I think is more then enough camera for me, but i have had people try to tell me the Cannon Rebel Xt is also a great camera. the Nikon is priced at 500 and i think the Rebel Xt was at about 525 on sale at best buy. so with that. which would you guys recommend? I want more then just a point and shot camera, hence the purchase of an SLR. thanks guys, hope to get some replies !! This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad.

05-21-2008, 08:33 PM	#2
Parker Photography Mod Car: 06 SGM STI Location: San Diego Posts: 3,291 Join Date: Mar 2006 Trader Rating: (7)	Re: buying an Digital SLR they'll both do just fine but you'll be somewhat limited by the lenses you can purchase with the d40. go and hold, shoot and play with them because the differences will be negligible anyways.

05-21-2008, 10:31 PM	#3
ChefMasterfunk STI Driver Car: 05 STi Fav Mod: Coilovers Location: Aliso, socal Posts: 295 Join Date: Mar 2007 Trader Rating: (2)	Re: buying an Digital SLR okayyy.. thanks much for the input!!!! tomorrow i think i will be making my purchase

05-21-2008, 10:46 PM	#4
WESTI The Other Dude Car: 06 WRB STI Fav Mod: Ricer Flyby Location: Irvine, Ca Posts: 6,341 Join Date: Apr 2006 Trader Rating: (9)	Re: buying an Digital SLR i got the nikon d80 and i have to say its way more camera than i really need. U should asked. I woulda let you play with it oh i also bought that 900 dollar lens thats supposed to be the best nikon lens evar. Didnt dissapoint.

05-21-2008, 11:04 PM	#6
WESTI The Other Dude Car: 06 WRB STI Fav Mod: Ricer Flyby Location: Irvine, Ca Posts: 6,341 Join Date: Apr 2006 Trader Rating: (9)	Re: buying an Digital SLR ahha yea the 18-200 VR lens. It was freakin 1000 after tax. But IMO it was worth every penny. Its on the camera 99% of the time. The other 1% im cleaning it. It can pretty much take any picture any time. Only time it kinda lacks is in the dark. But otherwise its awsome!

05-22-2008, 04:48 AM	#7
UltimateLurker Spec C Club Car: PSM '05 STi Fav Mod: S203 BBS RE's Location: Cape Girardeau, Mo Posts: 1,872 Join Date: Apr 2005 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: buying an Digital SLR D80 + VR 18-200 FTMFW!!! Man, if you're not happy with that set-up you simply can't be happy! OP: Stretch and get the D80, even if you have to get the body only for now.

05-22-2008, 05:06 AM	#8
*Bownse* Platinum Member Car: 08 Gray STi Fav Mod: Coming Soon Location: USA Posts: 894 Join Date: Jan 2008 Trader Rating: (1)	Re: buying an Digital SLR Don't forget to check out the Pentax line also. People sometimes forget that they are still making camera and that there's a huge resource of lenses from the line of 35mm cameras that interchange with their DSL line.

05-22-2008, 10:20 AM	#9
ChefMasterfunk STI Driver Car: 05 STi Fav Mod: Coilovers Location: Aliso, socal Posts: 295 Join Date: Mar 2007 Trader Rating: (2)	Re: buying an Digital SLR thanks for all the input guys. ill check them all out. haha wes you should have told me you had the camera!

05-22-2008, 10:27 AM	#10
samleeiii STI Driver Car: 08 WRB STi Fav Mod: Cusco Zero 2E Location: Irvine, CA Posts: 283 Join Date: Dec 2007 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: buying an Digital SLR I've always shot Canon. I've had maybe 5-6 DSLRs now. It really doesn't matter what system you go with, they both do the same thing: take photos. Just be prepared to spend money on lens and lighting equipment. Really it's all about lighting. Learn to shoot in RAW and how to post process that format. You'll never shoot JPEG again if you figure out how RAW works. I personally like wide angle lens. Here's a shot off my 10-22mm with really bad lighting. I just took a quick snap.

05-22-2008, 10:31 AM	#11
ChefMasterfunk STI Driver Car: 05 STi Fav Mod: Coilovers Location: Aliso, socal Posts: 295 Join Date: Mar 2007 Trader Rating: (2)	Re: buying an Digital SLR awesome thanks for the advice! im kinda leaning towards the Canon Rebel XT... and yeah im prepared to be buying new lenses and such, i really want to learn how to do it right tho you know? like you said, learn how to use and work with lighting. i dunnoo.. i just want to actually apply my self and evolve from point and shoot.

05-22-2008, 10:36 AM	#13
samleeiii STI Driver Car: 08 WRB STi Fav Mod: Cusco Zero 2E Location: Irvine, CA Posts: 283 Join Date: Dec 2007 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: buying an Digital SLR Yeah you'll learn by doing. Use the kit for a while until you get familiar with the camera and learn all the functions, then you can decide which way you'll want to go with new lens or lighting. Personally the cheapest "lighting" investment for me was just a better flash.

05-22-2008, 10:44 AM	#14
ChefMasterfunk STI Driver Car: 05 STi Fav Mod: Coilovers Location: Aliso, socal Posts: 295 Join Date: Mar 2007 Trader Rating: (2)	Re: buying an Digital SLR awesome thanks for the link and advice. im gonna go out and physically play with it for a while and probably buy it today im sure i will be back here asking for tips in the future haha thanks guys!

05-22-2008, 10:49 AM	#15
samleeiii STI Driver Car: 08 WRB STi Fav Mod: Cusco Zero 2E Location: Irvine, CA Posts: 283 Join Date: Dec 2007 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: buying an Digital SLR Have fun! Wow you're in Aliso I didn't even notice. LOL. This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad.